I’m going to participate in Money Saving Mom’s and Life as Mom’s Baking and Freezer Cooking Day today and tomorrow. I did this twice last month, once for baking and once for meal prep and got a lot accomplished, and had fun. They are live blogging, tweeting, and writing on Facebook about their progress. So I’m going to join in. I’m still not feeling 100% so I can use the extra motivation.

Here’s my 2 day list, not a lot, but it will be a big help to have all this to add to the freezer.

The List
pancakes
banana bread
chocolate cookies
chocolate chip cookies

kidney beans
great northern beans
pinto beans

cooked hamburger
taco meat
diced chicken
chicken broth

UPDATE

Well, I didn’t do very well today. I got 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies in the freezer. I wasn’t feeling well, so I had to quit. Hannah made the chocolate cookies. We put 8 dozen in the freezer.

I will be doing my best to get more done tomorrow. I’m not going to put the beans on to soak. Just in case I’m not well enough to cook them tomorrow. If I am, I will try the quick soak method.

I used to write down a menu all the time, but I had gotten away from writing it down. Instead, I kept it in my head. I think I like writing it down better. 🙂 I managed to stick to last weeks menu. I think the family liked having the menu hanging on the fridge, too.

On the menu this week:

Saturday – broiled steak, fried potatoes, green beans
Sunday – Pizza, carrots
Monday – Chicken and dumplings, carrots, using a recipe from my aunt
Tuesday -meatloaf, baked potatoes, corn and broccoli
Wednesday -crock pot chicken soup with homemade rolls or biscuits
Thursday – pasta with meat sauce, green beans
Friday – Roast in the crock pot with potatoes, onions and carrots

Breakfasts
We can choose from:
cereal
muffins
french toast
fruit, fresh and home canned

Lunches
We can choose from:
soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
mac and cheese
sandwiches
leftovers
fruits and veggies

For more menu ideas visit Menu Plan Monday over at I’m an Organizing Junkie.

I love creamed onions! I remember having these at family Thanksgiving dinners when I was growing up in Massachusetts. My mothers cousin made them with big onions, one in a bowl per person, with white sauce poured over. I like making them with the small pearl onions.

You can buy onions in a jar in the canned food aisle. Just make sure to get plain onions, and NOT the pickled onions! You can also buy the small pearl onions in the produce section, and peel and cook them.

You make a basic white sauce.

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup of milk

Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, then add the milk all at once. Stir until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. I also like to put in just a pinch of nutmeg.

Stir in your cooked onions, and they are ready to serve.

You can adjust the amount of white sauce, just use equal amounts of everything. For instance, if you need 3 cups of white sauce, you would use 3 tablespoons of butter and flour, and 3 cups of milk.

Since most of us here like onions, when I make this, I make at least 5 or 6 small onions for each person.

And extra white sauce can be reheated and used on vegetables and pasta. yum!

I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures of this. I wanted to make them this week, but my husband did the grocery shopping for me as I’m feeling sick. He couldn’t find any canned onions or fresh onions in the produce section. Oh well, Thanksgiving is coming up, I’ll get some then.

For more recipe ideas, visit Tammy’s Recipes, and The Ultimate Recipe Swap

Getting help in the kitchen is so important. As wives and mothers, we can’t spend all our time working in the kitchen. We have those husbands and kids to tend to. Getting help is important for our sanity and our health. But it’s also important for our husbands and kids.

How so?

It’s important that we let our husbands step up and help us when we are very busy, or sick. Our husbands need to know that they can take care of us physically and emotionally, not just financially.

The kids need to know that Dad can cook for them, feed them, and take care of them, too.

Our kids need to know their way around a kitchen. They are all going to someday, go to college, move out on their own, or get married. Yes, our sons need to know how to cook and clean also. What a gift you will be giving to your future daughter in law, when she marries your son who knows how to cook and clean.

Now, how can they help?

If you have a dish washer, even toddlers can help load and unload.

When started working in the kitchen at a young age, kids become great food prep helpers. Peeling fruits and veggies, cutting out biscuits with a cutter, mixing by hand, kneading dough, getting things out of the cabinets or fridge. The list is really endless.

We don’t have a dishwasher, so my kids help wash and put away. The washing has mostly been since I’ve been sick lately. But because they knew how to do it already, they could step up and help.

My teenagers can cook healthy meals. In the past I have put teenagers in charge of planning and preparing lunches. I need to start doing this again. 🙂 Breakfast is another meal that is easy for teens to plan and prepare. Or how about putting them in charge of meals, and clean up!, on Saturdays?

Many husbands like being in charge of supper one or two nights a week. They like making things their way sometimes!

We women need to let go of our perfectionism in the kitchen, and let our families help. It’s good for everyone involved.

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy’s Recipes